A friend of mine was recently telling me how frustrated she’s been that her 13-year-old son hasn’t been taking responsibility for his actions. She said he won’t get his homework done on time and then blames his parents, his teacher or anyone else he can think of. During the conversation I said the fateful words: “I know it’s coming, but I’m hoping we don’t have to go through it.” 

Two days later I was picking my son up from daycare when he loudly announced, “Mom, the WORST part of my day was DAD forgot my blanket!” Then when we got home and saw my husband my son said, “Dad the WORST part of my day was YOU forgot my blanket!” To which my husband replied: “I’m sorry about that, but someone else forgot your blanket too.” My son didn’t say anything so I thought I’d try and be helpful by saying “Who went to school with Dad this morning?” My son said in a very low voice “I….am….not….answering that.” Boy, without knowing the law, my son has claimed the Fifth Amendment. So much for teaching kids responsibility.